How much can you swap out and still consider it to be the same cub cadet?

[OldAndInTheWay]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

This is kind of a tricky one...

A frame by itself, is just a "part", but since nearly everything else bolts to it, it could be considered "The main part".

Here is my best advice: If you feel like changing the frame might bother you later, then it probably will.

Before I got a mig welder of my own, I would put the part in my truck and just happen to stop by the local "Mom and Pop" type body shop just a few minutes before closing time. I would carry the part inside and ask one of the workers how much they would charge me to "weld this back together".

Usually one of the guys would jump at the chance to "show off" his skills and offer to do it for a couple of bucks or for free... I would always give them a generous "tip" for doing the work ($20.00) for a few minutes of welding. If they refused the money (and sometimes they would) I would drop by the next evening with a 6 or 12 pack of a local favorite beer. After doing that a couple of times, they were normally very glad to see me.

Surly to goodness, someone here lives close enough to you and would fix your frame for a 6 or 12 pack.

I have done this several times.. The guy is so good I think he could weld aluminum foil. He never charges so I got him a really nice LED flash light for X Mas.. He is also interested in my Cub projects..

[PaulS]

In my oopinion the changing out of parts depends on the all important safety factor. Would your dad have changed a part that was not safe anymore--most likely yes. Would changing out a part make the tractor any less yours or your dads--most likely not. You are fortunate to have your dads tractor. My dads first tractor was a 1963 "0" that he and I litteraly beat to death. My son and I did buy an "0" to keep that memory alive. No it is not my dads machine but is in honor of him.

[gsomersjr]

No matter what you decide to do it will still always be "Dad's" tractor.

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by gsomersjr

No matter what you decide to do it will still always be "Dad's" tractor.

What he said. Just my 2 cents, the tag is on the rear end so as far as I'm concerned a frame change wouldn't matter.

[gsomersjr]

Reminds me of Theseus's paradox

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

[dvogtvpe]

I'm not much of a purest. I have a 100 that belonged to my grandpa. I haven't restored it yet but when I do there's a few things that will stay incorrect because they were changes Grandpa made for what ever reason. after all its still his tractor and always will be to me. it was painted red when grandpa purchased from the dealer because IH tractors are supposed to be red. My uncle painted it yellow again when he purchased it. I don't intend to strip it down, I'll repaint over the red again because if its scratched I'll see the red paint. for me allot of things aren't important that way. but it will still produce a smile, a memory and a comment about grandpa when I see red paint under yellow.

[OldSkull]

We just talking about a garden tractor with a top speed of 8 m/hr here, no big deal like a motorcycle as for security issue. What is the simple way to take care of the problem? Disassembled all the tractor, replace the frame and put it back together or just weld that crack? I never hesitate a second and weld that crack myself!

My father rear engine Gravely use to broke his frame all the time, dad was not a pro welder and just stick weld it back every 2 years, after he die my brother decide to get rid of the problem, he grind and weld the crap back, grind again and stick weld 3/16 plate reinforcement, he never broke again.

Preparation is the key for a good weld, you save a lot of time and headache hiring a good welder to do it, he can spot a problem right on the bat and suggest to replace a section of the frame if need, Just ask for a quote and from there you can make your decision.

One thing you should keep in mind, you and your father share the same blood so what ever you do on that tractor it's still a part of his blood who work on it! I bet he will be proud of that

[IH Cub Cadet]

Here's my thought. I'm in the same boat as you, but still a little different. I've got a 1650 with a 14 hp engine. If it came from the factory, it would be a 1450. I've got a 109 am going to drop in a 14 hp engine, from the factory, less the hydro lift, it would be a 149. I've got other color tractors with similar issues.

I'm also in search of the (for me) the perfect garden tractor, with the right combo of features. For example, a IHCC 1000 or 1200 with a 16hp engine. Or a 108 or 128 with a 14 or 16 hp engine.

What I go by (again for me) is the serial tag. I believe within it, the tractor model is identified. So your serial tag, I believe on the 123 is on the tranny housing at the rear vs the frame. IMHO, you will ALWAYS have your Dad's tractor if you have the original serial tags. Everything else changed out is just a part, be it a frame or spark plug.

Sooooo - change out the frame if that's what you want - it's still your Dad's tractor!!!

Good luck,
Bill

[Cub Cadet 123]

Originally Posted by gsomersjr

Reminds me of Theseus's paradox

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

That is an interesting philosophical approach to the problem. Surprisingly, I studied many of the ancient Greek philosophers, but have never come across this story--thanks for sharing that!

Certainly a lot of different perspectives have come out of the original question. Being that I know nothing about welding, I have done business with a professional welder, who is also a garden tractor puller, so I will show him the crack and see what he thinks about it. My dad passed 15 years ago, it isn't his original cub cadet 106 that I'm seen standing on in my photo album (I cannot seem to trace it down, but thanks to Merk I have one very similar to it), but it is his 123. He wasn't much on fixing things, so he would have probably just ran it like it is, but I'm smart enough to learn from his mistakes and I want to put things right to the best of my abilities. I know it is just a garden tractor, but to me it is no less than a car, motorcycle or whatever, it's my dad's and it's sentimental value surpasses it's actual market value.

One thing is for certain, it is great to hear so many different perspectives so that I can make an informed decision before proceeding to what is to me, an important decision.

Cub Cadet 123